Handheld Cell Phones: 9 states, D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit
all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. Except for Maryland, all laws are
primary enforcement—an officer may cite a driver for using a handheld cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.
- Novice Drivers: 30 states and D.C. ban all cell phone use by novice drivers.
- School Bus Drivers: Bus drivers in 19 states and D.C. may not use a cell phone when passengers are present.
Text Messaging: 35 states, D.C. and Guam ban text messaging for all drivers. 32 states, D.C., and Guam have primary enforcement; the others, secondary.
- Novice Drivers: An additional 7 states prohibit text messaging by novice drivers.
- School Bus Drivers: 3 states restrict school bus drivers from texting while driving.
Some states such as Maine, N.H. and Utah treat cell phone use and texting as part of a larger distracted driving issue. In Utah, cellphone use is an offense
only if a driver is also committing some other moving violation (other than speeding).
Crash Data Collection: Many states include a category for cell phone/electronic equipment distraction on police accident report forms.
Preemption Laws: Many localities have passed their own distracted driving bans. However, some states – such as Fla., Ky., La., Miss., Nev., and Okla. – prohibit localities from enacting such laws...
http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html
